Hamas on Saturday rejected as unconstitutional a new government appointed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to replace a Hamas-led administration. Abbas fired a unity government led by Hamas and formed an emergency administration after Hamas seized the Gaza Strip by force on June 14. Since then he has ruled by emergency decree.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the caretaker government was illegal. According to Reuters, he said Hamas "will not deal with it in any way or form, and we call upon our people not to deal with it".

Hamas has called for a special session of the Palestinian parliament to be convened on Sunday to try to challenge Abbas' movess.